EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The chance of Byron
Scott coaching the Eastern Conference in next month's NBA
All-Star Game is becoming more and more of a reality.

Kerry Kittles scored 16 of his 18 points in the third quarter as
the New Jersey Nets moved 12 games over .500 with a 108-89
victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

New Jersey pulled away in the second half to post its third
straight win, and moved three games ahead of the Boston Celtics
and Milwaukee Bucks for the best record in the East.

The team with the best record at the break sends its coach to
the All-Star Game. New Jersey has 11 games remaining, including
seven at Continental Airlines Arena.

At 23-11, the Nets are just three wins shy of matching last
season's total (26-56).

"It was a good win for our guys," Scott said. "I didn't think we
were playing with fire in the first half. That is what I told
them at halftime. We were letting them do whatever they wanted
offensively and we really soft.

"I think our guys did a heck of a job in the second half
defending and rebounding, and Kerry got extremely hot. After
that, it was all over."

Kittles, who missed all of last season following knee surgery,
scored 5.4 points above his season average. The Nets are 13-1
when he scored 15 points or more.

"I've been working hard on my game and just trying to get my
rhythm back," Kittles said. "After being out for a while, you
just want to come back to the gym against the best guys in the
world. I just consider myself working hard at the gym and now
it's just paying off and I'm making shots."

"I think he has exceeded mine and everyone's expectations in the
organization," Scott said. "He has had some gritty performances
with ankle problems, especially in the last week. He has played
extremely well all season and he seems to be getting better and
better."

The Clippers (18-18) also have been one of the league's biggest
surprises this season, but they have not been able to solve
their road woes. Los Angeles dropped to 0-3 on its six-game
road swing and fell to 2-11 overall away from the Staples
Center.

"Our energy right now isn't where it should be as a team,"
forward Lamar Odom. "It's been showing up in the scores. It's
just the way we lost this game. When you play hard and you lose,
it doesn't matter. But we didn't play up to our ability
tonight."

The Clippers pulled within 60-59 on a 3-pointer by Eric
Piatkowski with 10:10 left in the third period, but New Jersey
took control with an 8-0 run, opening a 68-59 lead on Kittles'
3-pointer with 8:24 left in the period.

Todd MacCulloch added 17 points for the Nets, who stretched
their lead to 85-72 after the third period and led by as many as
21 in the final quarter.

After trailing, 58-52, at the intermission, Los Angeles scored
just 37 points in the second half. Odom led the Clippers with
14.

"I don't want to take anything away from the Nets," Los Angeles
coach Alvin Gentry said. "They are playing great. We as a team
are not playing anywhere like I thought we would on this trip.
We are not playing with the intensity that I like to see us play
with."

The Nets surpassed the century mark despite getting only eight
points from leading scorer Keith Van Horn. Jason Kidd scored
only seven points but dished out 11 assists and grabbed nine
rebounds.

Keynon Martin returned to the lineup after serving a two-game
suspension and contributed 12 points for the Nets.

A balanced attack has been one of the keys for the Nets and it
was again Thursday as six players reached double figures.
Richard Jefferson scored 13 points and fellow rookie Jason
Collins and Aaron Williams added 12 apiece.

"We've been executing our offense very well," MacCulloch said.
"We just didn't play very good defense in the first half. We let
them shoot over 50 percent and we let the Heat shoot over 50
percent (in the last game), so we have to tighten the defense a
little bit, but our offense is really coming together."

The Nets dominated the boards with a 52-35 advantage and shot 50
percent (44-of-88) from the field while holding the Clippers to
43 percent (36-of-83).

"We have a group of guys that love to play with each other and
love to have fun," Kidd said. "When the job is fun, a lot of
good things can happen."

Los Angeles jumped to a 10-4 lead on Odom's jumper with 9:05
left in the first quarter, but the Nets grabbed the lead for
good, 16-15, on Martin's jumper with 5:07 to play in the opening
period.